Friends of Youth’s ninth annual Celebration of Youth luncheon is March 7 at the Bellevue Westin Hotel.

Each year, Friends of Youth provides support, shelter, homes and help to more than 4,800 youths and young adults, including those in Issaquah. The luncheon celebrates the successes of these youths while raising funds to ensure that every young person has the support he or she needs to succeed.

KIRO radio’s Dave Ross will be this year’s emcee, while Adrienne Quinn, King County Department of Community and Human Services director, will give the keynote address, and youths will share their personal stories of success. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. with lunch and the program to follow from noon to 1 p.m.

Chuck Lee, a math teacher and basketball coach at Beaver Lake Middle School, died Feb. 6 after a 10-year battle with cancer.

Chuck Lee

Lee had worked in the Issaquah School District since 1990, including the past 13 years at Beaver Lake. Previously, he had taught at Sunset and Issaquah Valley elementary schools, and at Skyline High School.

Counselors have been available to meet with Beaver Lake students during lunch periods to help them work through any grief, Principal Stacy Cho said via email.

Rowley Properties recently promoted Kristi Tripple to vice president for Community Development and she is now an officer of the corporation.

Tripple joined the Rowley team in 2005 as human resources director. She has worked with the community, its stakeholders and the city on Rowley’s Development Agreement visioning, planning and implementation. She will continue her involvement in the evolution and redevelopment of both of the Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center neighborhoods.

Rowley Properties is a family-owned and operated property management and development firm that purchases, develops, leases and manages property throughout Western Washington. Learn more at www.rowleyproperties.com.

Northwest Harvest, the only nonprofit food bank distributor operating statewide in Washington with a network of more than 360 food banks, meal programs and high-need schools, provides more than 1.9 million meals every month and 30 million pounds each year to its network.

King County wants to honor the very best students, teachers, staff, school volunteers, programs and even entire schools that are contributing to student environmental education and environmental protection, through the county’s Earth Heroes at School awards program.

Nominations for the 2014 Earth Heroes at School are due March 10, and winners will be honored at an event this spring. Earth Heroes can be nominated by colleagues, classmates and the public. Self-nominations are also encouraged.

“Jim was an obvious choice for NRF’s Gold Award, given his commitment to the industry and Costco, and dedication to creating such a well-respected culture throughout the organization he helped build,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said in a news release.

Congratulations, Seahawks and Seahawks fans. The 43-8 Super Bowl win against Denver makes us proud to be Northwest residents. And kudos to the Seahawks organization for the way it has embraced the 12th man concept — saying we fans are part of the team.

Online sports columnist Art Thiel (www.sportspressnw.com) said the number 12 seems to have significance for the Seahawks.

Sherry GrindelandSnoValley Star editor

“If you’re into sports numerology, Seattle scored 12 seconds into the first half, and 12 seconds into the second half,” he wrote. “For the long-suffering 12s, the symbolism goes beyond coincidence.”

Lawmakers are considering a bill that would send public officials and employees to what amounts to open-records school.

House Bill 2121 would require public officials and employees to undergo training on open government laws under the state’s Public Records Act and the Open Public Meetings Act.

When the public’s right to know is “stymied” by a public records officer, Rep. Gerry Pollet (D-Seattle) said, “it’s not a pleasant thing to deal with.” Pollet is the main sponsor of the bill, and advocated for a similar bill last year.